At a distance, I saw a dome of light. "That," said my guide, "is the gateway leading to the City of Peace. There the manifestation of thy Redeemer is made visible. There saints and angels abide; on harps of gold, and stringed instruments, with immortal lyres, in alleluias, chant the Song of Redemption; the song of peace; the song of love undying."

As we drew near, a class of attendants, more glorious, gathered around the gateway, and one foremost addressed my guide in language I could not understand. A gate of jasper, set with diamonds, opened, and two angelic beings approached, and taking me by each hand, led my tremulous spirit towards and inner gate, a more immediate entrance to the pavillion of light.

Then I remembered my discordant state; then thoughts of my former sins, my doubts, and rebellious nature, rushed upon my mind, and feeling entirely unprepared to endure the glory of the assemblage, my spirit failed me. The angelic attendants then bore me in their arms along the portal to the feet of a being most glorious. Upon his head was a crown of pure light, and over his shoulders hung golden lochs! His loveliness, can never be expressed.

"This, Marietta," said an attending angel, "is thy Redeemer. For thee in incarnation he suffered. For thee without the gate treading the winepress alone, He expired." Awed by His goodness, tenderness and love, I bowed, feeling that if worthy I would worship him.

Reaching forth his hand he raised me up, and in a voice that filled my soul with inexpressible delight, said, "Welcome, my child. Daughter, spirit of a race forlorn, enter thou for a season the portals of the redeemed." Then addressing the surrounding beings, continued, "Receive this your companion spirit." And lo! the worshiping congregation arose as upon the breath of, holy love, and, meekly welcomed me as an heir of grace, and with tuned instruments the immortal choir chanted the spirit’s welcome—

"Worthy is the Lamb who hath redeemed us. Exalt His name, all ye sanctified, yea adore Him, ye cherubim who worship in the celestial heavens. Adore Him, for He thath exalted us. We will praise His name, the name of our God Most High."

The music of this soft and melodious utterance, moved like the voice of many waters, filling the entire dome, and as the anthem closed, the echo departed in the distance, as though borne from wave to wave, along the holy atmosphere.

Each measure like noiseless waves swelled over that sea of mind; and with their gentle undulations I seemed to be moving when a spirit from the innumerable company approached and addressing me in a familiar manner called me by name.

The spell of music being broken, I was much affected to find myself in the embrace of one who on earth I had loved with the affection of an infant soul. With willingness I sank into her arms, and she with a sister’s tenderness pressed me to her immortal form, saying, "Sister spirit, welcome, for a season to our home of peace."

"Thrice welcome," uttered the mimic of a thousand voices, and lo! around me gathered those I loved, all eager to greet me, and receive me to their kind embrace.

Around us, and in this spacious room, appeared seats in form of an amphitheatre, yet glorious beyond description. Hereon We rested. Mingling with them, were many old and familiar friends.

Although I knew them, their appearance was unlike that while upon earth, each being an embodiment of intellect unassociated with the physical form, in which I had known them before. Not having power, or any means adapted to convey a just idea, I can only give feeble utterance to my conceptions of their nature by saying, they appeared all mind, all light, all glory, all adoration, all love supremely pure, all peace and calm serenity, all united in sublime employ, all expression of heavenly unfolding joy.

Freely did they converse, nor did they use the language of human beings. They spoke and no audible utterance attended, yet thought moved with thought, and spirit was familiar with the mind of spirit. Ideas associated with their heavenly life, flowed from being to being, and soon I learned that in heaven there is no concealment; Harmony of soul, harmony of desire, harmony of speech, harmony m the swelling notes of adoring anthems, harmony was their life, their love, their manifestation, and supreme delight.

Again with harps tuned in unison, they chanted a hymn to their Maker’s name. My guide urged me to unite in the animating song of redemption. I could not join them, being absorbed in the contemplation and glory of this long-sought home of rest. When they closed that sacred hymn, my guide, touching my lips again with the wand of light, bade me mingle, a companion, with the members of this divine abode.

Being after being pressed to mine, immortal lips, and seemed anxious to fold me in their arms. As a soul, newborn, they caressed me, after looking up in thankfulness to their Redeemer and their Lord.

"And is this Heaven?" my spirit said. "Are these happy souls those who once struggled in forms of clay? Are these immortal visages, radiant with the glory of this adoring mansion, the spiritual countenances of those I have before seen in careworn life? And where has fled that age and decreptitude, ye parent spirits?"

Often have I listened to you, my earthly teacher, while laboring to convey to the understandings of your audience, some faint idea of your conceptions of immortal life. Often have I discovered manifest grief when in spirit you appeared to realize that upon most minds all was but, an ineffectual effort. And then I have asked, can heaven be thus glorious? is not the picture too highly wrought? and may man, if he attain to that blest abode, bask in the sunbeams of such supreme delight? And be assured, the highest thoughts of man fail to approach the reality and the delights of that heavenly scene.

Then approached me one whom on earth I had seen bending tremulously over the pilgrim’s staff. I knew ‘twas one familiar, one of age and emaciated form, whose hoary head once told the story of a life of woe. In immortal youth the spirit stood before me; no staff was there; no trembling frame, no grief-worn cheek, no hollow eye, no sickly form; but light and health and vigor were manifest. And the spirit said, "Behold in me the efficacy of redeeming grace. This heart was once the cage of thoughts unholy. These hands were employed in sin. These feet moved swiftly in the downward road that led to sorrow and to death. This form of mine, though not this form, yet that in which I used to live, was worn with grief, corrupt and dying with disease. But now, all hail that name, Immanuel! through Him, redeemed, I wear habiliments of light and exist in immortal youth. This song I chant, ‘O death, where is thy sting? And grave, thy victory now? Worthy is the Lamb who offered Himself to redeem! Worthy—O give Him adoration, ye countless hosts, ye innumerable throng! Worship and adore Him, all inteIligences! yea, let the universes adore! Adore Him, for He is worthy to receive anthems of universal praise!’"

Then appeared a company of children, who hand in hand, moved around and their infant voices chanted: "Praise Him, for lo! While on earth He said, ‘Suffer infants to come to me and forbid them not; yea, suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me.’"